PEOPLE’S GROCERY STORE

Conrad Bollinger, Proprietor / Bollinger Block Building
Corner of Chestnut and Second Streets
Seymour Indiana

Mr. Bollinger was born in Switzerland in 1844. He came to this country with his parents in 1853, landing in New York City.

After a brief stop in Ohio,  the family traveled to Indiana and settled on a farm near Charlestown in Clark County.  In 1862, without a dollar in his pockets Conrad arrived in Seymour "to paddle his own canoe."

Conrad first learned the trade of barber at which he worked for about three years. In 1865, he became associated with Mr. John C. Groub in the grocery and provision trade in a comparatively limited way. This partnership was dissolved about 1869.

In 1879, Mr. Bollinger erected this fine structure,  which is three stories in height with a cellar under the whole building. The second story was used for offices and the third floor for a Lodge Hall. The first floor and cellar are devoted to business purposes and is without a doubt one of the most perfectly arranged and convenient business rooms in the city.  In this space he conducted a general grocery and provision store until 1878, when he sold out to his brother, A. Bollinger, and in 1883 again assumed possession.

The general grocery's inventory embraced a desirable selection of family supplies including groceries, country produce, farm and dairy products, canned and bottled goods, tobaccos, cigars and grocer's sundries, queensware, glassware, wood and willow ware, etc., His trade embraced the better class of citizens of this and adjoining counties and would bear favorable in comparison to the leading houses of the area.

By virtue of his own individual efforts and business sagacity, we honor Conrad Bollinger and his legacy.  He truly lived the American Dream by arriving in Seymour Indiana without a dollar in his pockets and now he takes his place among the truly self-made businessmen of Indiana.